More than £1m taken away from criminals

More than £1m has been seized from criminals by police in Lancashire, new figures reveal.

Between April 2012 and March 2013, Lancashire Police recovered £1.1m as part of 120 separate cases under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The figures, obtained following a Freedom of Information request, include cash forfeited by criminals under the act.

A portion of the money recovered by the force is used by the force to fund police activities, including a knife amnesty due to start on Monday.

Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw has the power to decide how some of the cash is used, and recently provided £30,000 of money made available this way to offer a reward for information in the Paige Chivers murder investigation.